Efficiency

Polyester polyols based on rPET and other recycled components. Resinate® is a product line that uses recycled and renewable materials for high-performance applications in coating, adhesives, and foams. The product, Resinate® EP1000-5.6, is based on rPET (recycled PET) and other recycled components, resulting in 66% recycled content. Resinate® C2051-50 is a modified polyol for the coatings marketplace and contains 50% renewable content. 

High-performance hydrocarbon oils from plant sugars for lubricants. These plant-derived lubricants have exceptional performance with lower carbon footprints. These hydrocarbon oils reduce heat losses during manufacturing to improve energy efficiency.
 

Synthesis of simvastatin with a biocatalyst. Simvastatin is a drug used to treat high blood pressure and cholesterol. The conventional synthesis of this drug is not atom-economic (<70% original mass) and utilizes toxic feedstocks. This new process from Professor Tang and his research group at UCLA uses a biocatalyst for regioselective acylation with safer and cheaper reagents in a high-yield, single-step process. 

Solid catalyst alkylation process for the production of alkylate. Alkylate is a clean fuel component of gasoline. Traditional production methods use toxic liquid acid technologies that require post-treatment. Using the Alkystar catalyst, AlkyClean is a more efficeint alkylate production process that increases reaction speed and reduces environmental hazards by eliminating the need for liquid acids.

Natural ester dielectric fluid. PCBs were traditionally used as fluid insulators in transformers and were eventually banned due to their high toxicity. PCBs were then replaced with petroleum-based mineral oil. Unfortunately, mineral oil is highly flammable and has a low affinity for water. Additionally, other insulator materials within transformers are made of cellulose. Thus, water inside the transformers was mostly absorbed by the cellulose-based insulator materials, catalyzing their degradation and reducing the lifetime of the transformers.

Solid catalyst system for the production of Polyisobutylene (PIB). PIB is a polymer of isobutylene often used in lubricants and gasoline. In conventional production, a toxic and corrosive liquid catalyst is used. The liquid catalyst requires an extensive amount of water to neutralize and cannot be reused after neutralization. This company has created a solid catalyst that can be synthesized into convenient shapes. The process does not require neutralization, eliminating the need for extensive water use. Without the need for neutralization, the catalyst can also be reused.

Corrosion-resistant coatings. This technology provides high corrosion resistance and improved adhesion for hot-dip galvanized steel, aluminum alloys, and other metals in a one-step process without toxic chemicals like VOCs and Haps. Traditional anti-corrosion agents contain hexavalent chromium, which is toxic to humans and the environment, and contain high molecular weight polymers that require VOCs for anti-corrosion properties. VOCs are responsible for forming ground-level ozone and particulate matter and negatively impacting human health.

Building envelope with air and water barriers. Insulated walls reduce energy consumption and amplify the effectiveness of heating and cooling systems. R-Guard® halts air and water leakage in structures such as walls, material transitions, and heating seams. This technology does not use phthalates and other harmful ingredients. Buildings with this technology are more resilient and sustainable. This technology can be applied to various materials and adapts to the surface on which it is applied.

Marine antifoulant to control plant and animal growth on ship hulls. Traditional antifoulants are acutely and chronically toxic, bioaccumulate, decrease reproductive viability, and increase the shell thickness of shellfish. The Sea-Nine antifoulant (4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4isothiazolin-3-one) degrades rapidly (one day in seawater and one hour in sediment) and has essentially zero bioaccumulation. 

PFC free water-resistant down treatment. HyperDry is based in natural waxes that allow superior water-resistance performance and strength. Like conventional treatments, this technology uses hydrocarbon chains to decrease surface tension in order to make the down hydrophobic. However, HyperDry achieves this without the traditional use of PFC. Fluorinated compounds are toxic and have an extremely long half-life, making biodegradation almost impossible. This inability to biodegrade causes pollution in waterways and the ecosystem.